Culture

Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd in association with Christian Aid RRP 39.95 This book, by the Professor of Ethics at the University of Edinburgh, attempts a wide ranging analysis of both the modern moral climate and the ethical issues associated with global warming. Northcott states the core argument of his book as follows: “the fossil-fuelled global economy is dangerous to ...

The Lion First Bible By Pat Alexander with pictures by Leon Baxter Publisher: Lion Children’s RRP: My Very Own Bible Retold by Lois Rock, Illustrated by Carolyn Cox Publisher: Lion Children’s RRP: After both previewing each book, we came to the conclusion that they appear to be aimed at different age-groups and perhaps with different purposes. The Lion First Bible ...

Allen & Unwin, 2008 RRP $29.95 The Great Arch is a fictional novel, inspired by real people and real events, and follows one man’s obsession with the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge which he views from the verandah of his rectory in North Sydney. Reverend Ralph Andersen Cage the parish priest of Lavender Bay, photographer of the bridge, husband ...

UNSW Press, Sydney RRP $34.95 Professor Charles Birch is a hero from my youth, for in 1963 he spoke at a Mission to the University of Adelaide. By the fifth of his five lectures there was no venue large enough to hold the crowd so he spoke in the open air. That week he taught many of us to think ...

Polebridge Press RRP: $55.95 Founded by Robert W Funk in 1985, The Jesus Seminar is a group of academic theologians who study Christian writings from the 1st to 3rd century of the Common Era in a quest to discover the historical Jesus and present their findings to the public. The task being undertaken by the Jesus Seminar is to analyse ...

Rated PG Like Truly Madly Deeply and The Accidental Tourist, Lars and the Real Girl is about grief and intimacy. Lars (played by Ryan Gosling) is a 27 year-old introvert who is terrified of being touched. He lives alone in a converted garage, next to the house inherited by Lars and his older brother, Gus (Paul Schneider), from their departed ...

Rated M (For frequent battle violence) Having read the Narnia books as a young boy, I was reasonably familiar with the story and expected a swash-buckling effects-laden experience. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian did not disappoint. As director, Adamson takes the stories of battle hinted at by C.S. Lewis and brings them to the foreground. People and creatures die, ...

Church Publishing RRP: $24.95 Asking, “What would Jesus sing?” is a bit like how often Jesus brushed his teeth, or whether he was left or right-handed! Seriously though, this book does offer some helpful pointers to congregations giving greater priority to music ministry. It’s subtitle is “Experimentation and Tradition in Church Music” – that sums up the general context found ...

Polebridge Press RRP $31.95 Stephen J Patterson’s book The Gospel of Thomas and Jesus provides a very detailed treatment of the critical issues surrounding the Gospel of Thomas (long alluded to in church history but only discovered as part of the Nag Hammadi collection in 1945) as a source document for Christian scholars and students of early church doctrinal development. ...

Continuum RRP Val Webb is a writer, teacher, artist, theologian and scientist who weaves knowledge and experience together as she encourages the reader to open themselves to a myriad of metaphors, symbols and images that reveal the Divine across cultures, religions and centuries. But this is far more than an historical journey. Like catching water in a net invites each ...